Barcelona pair Victor Valdes and Pedro have been included in Spain’s final 23-man World Cup squad announced on Thursday by manager Vicente del Bosque.
Barcelona’s Valdes has been the most effective goalkeepers in La Liga in recent years but has never been capped by Spain. Little winger Pedro has been the revelation player of the Spanish season.
The inclusion of Valdes and Pedro means that seven Barca players are in the squad — including new signing David Villa from Valencia — making it by far the biggest club contingent.
Also included are Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas and Fernando Torres, despite their recent injuries.
Del Bosque has also opted for Athletic Bilbao youngsters Javi Martinez and Fernando Llorente, while leaving out Villarreal pair Marcos Senna and Santi Cazorla, both of whom were important in Spain’s Euro 2008 triumph.
The other players left out by Del Bosque from his preliminary squad were David de Gea (Atletico Madrid), Diego Lopez (Villarreal), Cesar Azpilicueta (Osasuna), Alvaro Negredo (Sevilla) and Daniel Guiza (Fenerbahce).
Squad: Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Jose Reina (Liverpool), Victor Valdes (Barcelona)
Defenders: Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Raul Albiol (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal)
Midfielders: Xavi (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Javi Martinez (Athletic Bilbao)
Forwards: Juan Mata (Valencia), David Silva (Valencia), David Villa (Barcelona), Pedro (Barcelona), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao).
